There are three main types of assessments: formative, interim, and summative. Formative assessments occur during learning to provide feedback, such as questions, short quizzes, homework, and projects. Interim assessments take place occasionally over a longer period to check progress. Summative assessments happen at the end of a learning period to evaluate learning for the teacher. Formative methods include questions during class, short tests, homework exercises, and projects. Interim assessments should reflect state test questions but require higher-level thinking.

1. B y : K i m v e r l y T o r r e s
TYPES OF ASSESSMENT

2. THREE TYPES OF ASSESSMENT
 Formative Assessment - occurs in the short term, as
learners are in the process of making meaning of new
content and of integrating it into what they already know.
 Interim Assessment - takes place occasionally throughout
a larger time period. Feedback to the learner is still quick,
but may not be immediate.
 Summative Assessment –takes place at the end of a large
chunk of learning, with the results being primarily for the
teacher's or school's use.

3. Formative Assessment
There is a large range of formative assessment
methods available. This includes:

4. Question and Answer in the Lesson
This is perhaps the most
commonly used method
for teachers. It gives
instant feedback, can be
used to develop motivation
but is largely ephemeral-
that is to say that it is
momentarily and difficult
to record.

5. Short test and Quizzes
 These are either from
textbooks or devised by
the teacher. These are
informal, can be fun and
marks can be simply
recorded. Used with
care they can become
part of everyday
teaching and learning.

6. Homework Exercises
 These vary in purpose,
design and complexity.
‘Purpose’ is the keyword
here. Students will make
good use of homework if
they feel it is useful, for
example, preparation of
material for class
discussion, seeing how a
piece of writing ends,
developing a skill, are all
appealing tasks.

7. Projects
 Increasingly used in
modern education as it
is felt that developing
your own learning
material/methods
gives you an
“ownership” of your
own learning
experience.

8. Interim Assessment
 Most interim assessment questions reflect
those of the state test: multiple-choice, short
answer responses, and extended responses.
But, be careful because some multiple-
choice questions require higher-level
thinking than others. There must be
consistency amongst all teachers who are
designing questions so the questions are of
equal rigor.